ART BLOG

[avenariush-blog]

Week 10 Blog

Reading this book is like riding a roller coaster. Sometimes you hit two chapters you like, two chapters you don’t like, and one of each. For me, the continuing theme of boredom comes with the abstract art chapters. With chapter 29, that boredom is back again! However, in 30, we get to go behind the scenes and look at some pop art as well as conceptual art to even the tide. In this blog, I will analyze main points from chapters 29 and 30 of the textbook, while relating them to the experiences of my own life.

When I look at The Gate by Hans Hofmann (p. 518), I see what I describe as “nothingness”, in a negative tone. It is an oil on canvas painting that primarily is made of rectangular painted boxes in green, blue, grey, white, yellow, and red. Before last week and watching the “I Could Do That” video, I would say, I could do that! However, after watching, I see something more than nothing. I see skill as it takes a high skill level to paint straight edges with oil on canvas, I also see Cubism in this as well with the rectangles. It’s still not my favorite, but I can at least appreciate it.

When it comes to abstract art, I actually liked looking and learning about the drip technique that Jackson Pollock used on page 521. This is a relatively new technique as he used it in 1947 and he also was innovative as he, “…engaged his whole body in the act of painting.” This means simply that he, “…controlled the placement of the drips and splatters through the motion of his arm and body.” It looks as you might imagine, like someone took a paint brush and flicked it a ton on a blank sheet of paper. Look at the photograph on page 521 of Jackson Pollock to see what I mean! I also enjoyed Tahkt-i-Sulayman I by Frank Stella (p. 528) as it was a polymer and fluorescent paint on canvas piece which was bright and vibrant in color. It looked like a bunch of protractors in different shapes lined up differently. It reminded me club colors in Miami, bright yellow, green, blue, orange, pink, and red, also like some of the Miami Heat throwback jerseys. For that, I liked it.

Gliding into something newer, we have pop art in chapter 30. Pop art is simply art that becomes popular with the public due to its recognizable image. The biggest example of this that I found happened to be the Campbell’s Soup (Tomato) can from 1968 by Andy Warhol. The design of the label is so basic as the top half is red and the bottom half is white, with inverse colored text on each side reading “Campbell’s condensed tomato soup.” However, that simplicity is what makes it recognizable and able to stick around for over 50 years. When someone tells you to grab the Campbell’s soup, your mind probably knows exactly what it is looking for (because of the simplicity). Brilliant idea for marketing (business major).

The last piece that I enjoyed was Untitled by Dan Flavin. It was a pink, yellow, blue, and green fluorescent light square across a corner (p. 544). The corner behind the checkerboard look-alike fluorescent lights, reminded me of the MGM Grand casino and hotel in Las Vegas. I often see the aerial snapshot of the MGM Grand as I watch UFC events or boxing matches and this image reminded me of the corner shaped building of the MGM grand at night, as the corner was bright in color and it faded out towards the edge. Compare the image to the MGM to see what I mean!

Overall, I would say that I was able to enjoy this art more because of that video last week. I also was able to make connections to stuff from my own life in these minimalist or abstract pieces to further enjoy them.

[jmeier15-blog]

 I like how you described the book as being a roller coaster because I also feel that way. There are some chapters where I am interested in the style of art that they are discussing and others that I couldn't care less about. It seems the further in the book we get the more interested I am in it. I guess I never realized before taking this class that I would be more into more modern art rather than the older pieces. I also really enjoyed the activity painting done by Jackson Pollock. It interests me how people use all different kind of methods to create art and can incorporate their whole body into each painting.  I also like how you described pop art as being art that is popular due to a recognizable image. I never thought of the Campbell’s soup can as being recognizable due to its simplicity but I suppose you are correct is stating that people easily recognize it because of that reason. Hopefully the last couple of chapters are able to peak our interest more so than those in the past!

[jmeier15-blog]

chapters 39 & 30

Chapter 29 is all about Mid-Century American abstraction. During this time, Paris was being controlled by the Nazi's so the hub of the art world began to shift to New York City in America. This style brought bold colors and abstract designs. An artist by the name of Jackson Pollock created paintings in a style of which was called action or gesture painting. This involved painting with your whole body and not just your hand. He would lay a canvas on the floor and drip and slash paint onto it to create abstract works. His creation 'White Light' is all sorts of lines this and thin, small and large, dark and light which created his final piece. Pollock said that he enjoyed this type of painting because it allowed him to paint from all sides of the canvas and that he “felt nearer, more a part of the painting”. Pollock drew inspiration for his action painting from the Indian sand painters which were often shaman or medicine men who would draw pictures in the sand in order to heal a sick person by summoning help from the Holy People. They too, would move all around while making their drawings, painting from all sides of the piece. Another piece noted in this chapter was the sculpture 'Cubi' by David Smith. This is a set of three sculptures made from iron and steel. They are abstract sculptures created by different shapes pieced together with open air coming through them meant to make you feel like they are moving. When I think of mid-century I think of the homes and décor that were popular during this time. These sculptures remind me of that with the long horizontal lines and cubed shapes. This style of furniture and architecture are by far my favorite and I am very happy to see aspects of this time period coming around again in a classic and more modern style.

In chapter 30 the book discusses Pop Art, Op Art, Minimalism and Conceptualism. Of these, the most prominent was Pop Art. Pop art was based on and formed around commercial sources, media and everyday objects. Perhaps the most well known artist in this chapter and of the Pop Art style, at least to me, was Andy Warhol. He is famous for his commercial painting such as the Campbell's soup can and for his paintings of pop icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy. Warhol's paintings were often replicated with the same image being repeated in different color schemes.  In high school art class we did a section on Andy Warhol and were required to create a painting similar to his. I chose to create a painting similar to his Campbell's soup can with a Diet Pepsi can.  I have also seen many of his paintings throughout the media with the most notable being his portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Andy Warhol is one of my favorite painters for his realistic style, bold colors and whimsical interpretation of common objects.

[elyseck-blog]

Chapters 27 & 28

After reading through chapters 27 & 28, cubism really stood out to me. I really enjoyed reading about the difference between synthetic and analytical cubism. Synthetic cubism involved artists incorporating texture, pattern, and various techniques into their paintings and work. Art is all about combinations of new and old, recreating one piece to make it different from the old. The cubism aspect reminds me of taking multiple styles such as: painting, plain paper, designed paper, etc. and creating something out of a number of things. The variations of cubism are different. I understood it as, synthetic is a mere combination of formats, where as analytical cubism is more the same object or subject but analyzing it from different angles, sides, etc. Overall, the cubism style really interests me as it is a combination of multiple styles and forms put together to create one piece. 

In addition to the chapters, I also enjoyed the video. The ‘I Could Do It” video was very informative. I know personally I’ve looked at work and thought that it was easy to do, or quite simple. However, people fail to realize that there is so much more to art than simple lines and shapes. While it may look easy, it more often than not really is not easy. Artists start and restart work more often then we truly realize. There is so much precision and detail that make a work of art fascinating. As mentioned, it’s also important to think about the reasoning behind works of art. They didn’t just wake up one day and start painting. Instead, there is often a strong reasoning behind why they chose to do what they did. The chapters and video were interesting to read and watch. 

[jmeier15-blog]

I liked your point about how people don't realize that there is a lot more to art than the simple lines or shapes that some paintings are created from. Some pieces may look extremely simple and easy when in fact they are a lot more difficult to create than most realize. They also don't look at a simple piece of art and think about the reasoning behind why it was created. People see art for simply what it is and what is right in front of them without thinking about why the artist created it in the first place. This video was very eye opening for me. I also often find my self guilty of looking at art that seems simple and thinking that I could easily recreate it or “how is this person famous, this would be so easy!” After viewing this video however, I will definitely look more deeply into the meaning behind pieces and what the artist was experiencing at that time, or as you said, why they chose to do what they did and then actually did it. 

[jmeier15-blog]

week 9 blog

Chapter 27 discusses Cubism and Futurism. Cubism is said to be “the most influential style of the the early twentieth century”. It brought about a new way to represent the human form other than in the traditional sense. One example of this is Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'. In this painting there are five people in different positions. They are oddly shaped and their faces disfigured and disproportional. Picasso drew inspiration from the Egyptians and art from the Congo in the way he designed the faces and the body positioning of the figures. Another example of representing the human form in a more abstract and different way is Umberto Boccioni's sculpture 'Unique Forms of Continuity in Space'. This sculpture also represents Futurism by bringing in the machine and industrial age components. It is a bronze sculpture that takes the form of a man standing in a forceful pose with his knee bent and the diagonal shape of the sculpture giving him the assertive aspect of his pose. Although you can notice what this sculpture is supposed to be, it does not look like the traditional human form.

Chapter 28 informs us of, among others, Surrealism. Surrealism is how it sounds, a higher reality. This could include dreams, fantasy or myth. A good example of this is Rene Magritte's 'Time Transfixed'. This is a fantasy painting of a simple fireplace with a clock on the mantle. There is a train which appears to be coming out of the opening in the fireplace. This creates the dream or fantasy component of the painting. Another movement discussed in this chapter is Regionalism. Perhaps the most well known and recognizable of these two chapters, is Grant Wood's 'American Gothic'. This represents the American Midwest with a woman and a man with a pitchfork in hand dressed in plain clothes. There is also a farmhouse behind them which is representative of the Midwest region. I was able to recognize this painting from history and art lessons throughout school. This was always a painting that was brought up in classes. I feel this painting represents the Midwest region at the time very well. Farming and simple living was, and still is a large part of the culture of the Midwest.

The thing that stood out to me most about the video 'I Could Do That' was Felix Gonzalez-Torres' 'Untitled'(Perfect Lovers). I have never seen this art before but this video and the story behind it really makes you think about all works of art and the meaning behind them. This particular work was created to represent two people in love and their hearts beating in perfect harmony. Until one day, Gonzalez-Torres' partner passed away and his 'clock' stopped ticking. This to me is a beautiful representation of the love between two people and how no matter how in love they are it is inevitable that one of the 'clocks' will stop ticking before the other.  I never really thought of looking at art and thinking of the meaning behind it so much as what the artist was thinking, feeling or experiencing at the time that caused them to take the time to create what they did and share it with the world. I always look at art and love when it evokes a feeling or a memory or a story, however the background of the artist is never something that occurred to be to consider. After watching this video I will definitely approach works of art in a different way with a different mind set.

[lizfass-blog]

Week 8

Once the late nineteenth century roles around, and after impressionism, post-impressionism arises. During this movement/style of art, artists are working and determining different structural and emotional connections within the art. They were often drawn towards “ bright color and visible, distinctive brushstrokes” (Adams, 452). Abstraction, silhouettes, and symbolism define post-impressionism and were only continuing to rise. 

Likewise, as the turn of the century rolled around, so did new advances in all areas of life too (Adams, 467). Artists such as Picasso and Matisse are ones of note during this new century. Symbolism continued to reveal itself too. It allowed artists to be able to “depict a mood or state of mind” (Adams, 468) but also, to have a deeper meaning and connection attached to their paintings. Unlike the past styles, Fauvism became apparent too. This style includes bold colors, different forms, and abstraction as well (Adams, 470). To add, there was also expressionism throughout paintings as well. Expressionism is using “color to create mood and emotion but differed from Fauvism in its greater concern for the emotional and spiritual properties of color and form” (Adams, 471). Overall, the 20th century leads to the creation of different art styles that had a deeper meaning due to the special use of lines, abstraction, color, and their play on emotions.

One artist that caught my attention while reading these chapters was Vincent van Gough. He had a strong passion for landscapes and impressionism. His painting The Starry Night is one that uses lines and expressive colors to portray his vision (Adam, 458). His lines make the picture have a sense of motion, as it makes the sky look like its moving. Also, his lines go different directions in particular parts of the painting which create definition between aspects of the landscape. I related to this painting because I have been taught and shown this painting since elementary school and have always enjoyed viewing this painting. It is more interesting now, as I know why the particular style of lines and colors were used. 

One other painter that seemed similar to van Gough was Pablo Picasso. Picasso focused on symbolism throughout his work. He accomplished this by having periods that had work that revolves around the usage of one color. For example, his painting The Old Guitarist used the color blue to portray a sense of “melancholy and pessimism” (Adams, 468). The guitarist has a long and lean body, with an elongated expression, all alluding to a sense of depression or “feeling blue”. Similarly, just like van Gough, I was always shown this painting done by Picasso in school. We always learned about this specific art movement and recreated work that fit into these styles. In elementary school, we often would make monochromatic work which could follow this theme of symbolism too. 

In conclusion, after reading these two chapters, it becomes very apparent that artwork is changing and so are artists. Artists are expressing themselves through their artwork, but also experimenting more with styles, materials, and colors within their artwork.

[jmeier15-blog]

This is an informative post. I like how you stated that art in this time allowed artists to depict a mood or state of mind. I think this type of art is much more relatable when you can really put yourself in the shoes of the subject of the painting or the artist itself and feel what they were feeling while they were creating it. As you noted in Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' painting, the lines allow his art to “come alive” with the brushstrokes representing movement of the sky and other parts of the painting. I also have been exposed to this piece several times throughout my years of schooling. I can remember doing paintings trying to emulate his style. I also remember doing this with the monochromatic paintings that you stated were done by Picasso during his Blue Period. I find his paintings during this period were more realistic and relatable to average people instead of the wealthy and powerful which is often the type of life artists depict in their paintings.

[jmeier15-blog]

chapters 25&26

Chapter 25 talks about the age of post-impressionism. During this time artists were drawn to bright colors and distinctive brushstrokes. One of the most famous artists discussed in this chapter who emulate the post-impressionism style is Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh's painting ' Bedroom of Aries' shows an empty room with two portraits on the wall and some furniture. It is said that this painting was meant to represent Van Gogh's efforts to have a relationship with another person which he ultimately failed at doing. In this painting the bold colors are meant to represent this desire that he did not achieve.  The lines are sharp and the brushstrokes are prominent which is an excellent representation of the post-impressionist style. His uber famous 'Starry Night' and self portrait also emulate this style. The 'Starry Night' was said to have been a “reflection of a disturbed mind” because of the fact that he painted it while he was in a mental asylum. This is a tid bit of information that I was unaware of. I did not know that he spent time in an institution, nor that his most famous piece was created while he was there.

This chapter also touched on Symbolism. Artists in the symbolist movement were drawn to mythical and imaginative material. This style is said to be poetic, disturbed and perverse.

Chapter 26 was all about the early twentieth century. One part of this time was Picasso and his “Blue Period” which featured a mood of somberness and poverty. His painting 'The Old Guitarist' is painted in a blue huge and shows an old gentleman who is slumped forward with his guitar. His clothes are torn and tattered and his body is skinny and frail. I like the representation of Picasso's Blue Period because it shows a different perspective than earlier pieces. It is not based around wealth or political power but the struggle and realism of a large portion of the population. Another artist featured in this chapter that caught my eye was Kathe Kollwitz. Her painting 'Whetting the Scythe'  is a dark representation of a rough looking older lady with wrinkly hands focusing on her task. The book states that Kollwitz liked to focus on the struggles, emotional and material, of the working class.

As I stated above, I enjoy the paintings and artists that focus on the everyday life and struggles of the average person. A lot of art, although beautiful and imaginative, focuses on wealth and power that most people could only dream of. For these reasons I find this type of art much more relatable.

[kaleibiehl-arthistory-blog]

Week 7 Blog Post: Realism/Impressionism Ch 23+24

Chapters 23 and 24 cover a time period of revolution and the “reality” of the world. The most common themes I saw as I read was the real time, real experience the painters captured. In my blog post, I will cover the Realism style by analyzing the painting “Olympia,” and explore Impressionist style by examining “Moulin de la Galette.”

In Chapter 23, I was drawn to the painting by Édouard Manet entitled, “Olympia.” I thought this painting was the perfect representation of the Realism style due to the painting’s representation of raw, imperfect life. According to the reading, Manet’s painting was viewed by many as an oil canvas of a prostitute, sitting in an unmade bed with a flower in her hair sent by one of her clients. Realism is represented here in many forms, the most pronounced one is her body. In the painting, the woman is laying in a disproportionate way, she is not perfect but she is real. I think Monet was trying to capture the true form people are in, rather than the romanticized nude figures seen in previous chapters. Secondly, the bed sheets are ruffled and unmade, creating the allusion that the reality of life is unkept and flawed. “Olympia” was also a progressive painting, it was controversial because rather than staying with the Classical ideal, the real society of nineteenth-century Paris was exposed (428). I also noticed that the woman openly accepts the viewer and glares back. Her body is uncovered and she rejects modesty. The painting led me to believe that Realism style is like protests we see now against the perfect image of models in society, and the notion that women must be private and lady-like. The progressive art movement seemed to show people that women have the right to do or say as they please. On the opposing side, I compare Romanticism style to magazines and screenplays, similar to how many people picture the perfect life to be. In my opinion, Realism style artwork helps people stay grounded and less like they must live and look a certain way; the reality of life is imperfect and a winding road of happiness and sadness. 

Chapter 24 covered the Impressionist style, where painters captured their emotions and “impression” of a situation or moment of time. I noticed a lot of the artwork from this era was painted outdoors and the characters looked off-guard and in the moment. Similar to Realism style, it captured the true sense of the situation, but it also added the feelings of how the artists felt during the scene. According to the reading “Week 7 Overview”, the painters used the manipulation of light in different parts of the painting to “heighten their ability to capture the moments.” Page 435 shows an image of the painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir named  “Moulin de la Galette.” The painting depicts a leisure day at the Montmartre dance hall courtyard (435). Couples are laughing and dancing candidly. I liked this painting because it was bright and cheerful, showing the emotion of each person through their eyes. 

[jmeier15-blog]

Manet's painting 'Olympia' also caught my eye. I like how the artists recreate paintings that were similarly done by others in the past. This allows us to see how the styles have changed over time. This painting in particular does represent realism very well. As you mentioned, the woman is not shy or covering herself up. She is focused on the viewer as if inviting them in. The bed appears slept in and unkempt showing what real life would actually look like. There is also the African American maid who is bringing her the flowers she has received which would be likely for this era. I like how these chapters cover periods where art was getting more real and less romanticized and idealized. Life is not a perfect picture, as you said it is messy and there are ups and downs. This style begins to represent the life most people live rather than the life the masses dream of.

[jmeier15-blog]

chapter 23/24

Chapter 23 was about Realism. Realism was focusing on real life situations within artists work. Gustave Courbet is one example of an artist who really focused on real life situations in his pieces. He believed that you could only represent your own experiences. He studied art history but said that art could not be taught, only drawn from experiences one has. In his painting 'Burial at Ornans' it depicts a group of people attending a funeral. It show cased the simplicity and humdrum way of everyday life in rural area in that time period. Some objected to this painting for monumentalizing an everyday occurrence such as that.

This was also a time when photography was trying to break though as being recognized as an art form. Referring to photography as art was met with much criticism. There were people who argued that because of the mechanical aspect of photo taking, it was more of a science rather than an art. The book suggest that to some extent, this argument exists even today. I'm not sure that I could agree with the naysayers that photography is more of a science than an art. I love photography and it is my favorite way to express myself creatively. To me, photography is as much of an art as painting. It requires skill of knowing what angles to take photos from, what settings should be used on the camera, and how to capture the best light. With photography you are able to capture moments that would otherwise only live as a memory in your head. It allows us to share glimpses of our best memories with others and to visually relive them over and over again. To me, art is something that captures or creates a feeling. What better way to capture a feeling than being able to look back and 'relive' a certain experience?

Chapter 24 talked about impressionism. Impressionism was based more on activities, landscapes and entertainment than political events which previously dominated the art world.  One artist mentioned in this chapter is Claude Monet. His painting 'Terrace at Sainte-Adresse' really captured what this time periods impressionism was all about. The painting shows a man and woman in conversation standing next to a railing overlooking the ocean while another couple sit in chairs and take in the scenery as well. He captures the beautiful landscape of the venue as well as an every day activity that people would embark on. In the background you can also notice the ships and barges on the water, representing the industrialization going on at the time.

I think that these chapters are getting more and more focused on a type of artwork that I enjoy. I love 'candid' images, whether they be photographs or paintings. Landscapes are beautiful and I am always impressed by how artists use color to make a landscape come alive. In Monet's painting 'Water Lily Pond' he uses generally one color but though brush strokes and shading/highlighting he is able to create an entire feeling of serenity on the water.

[afaye2]

Women Artists

For these two chapters, chapter 19 and chapter 20, I decided to focus on women artists, I relate to this because I am a women, even though I am not an artist. I found it interesting and could relate to in a sense. The women artists included in these chapters are:

Judith Leyster. Her painting The Last Drop is a very contrasted painting and in the text book it talks about the meaning of the painting and how it portrays drinking and smoking as time paces and death occurs. I found this painting interesting, especially after reading the meaning behind it. This painting is an eye opener because to me, I took it as how precious life is and the carelessness in the two that were drinking and smoking. I think it speaks on the issues of heavy drinking and smoking during the period. 

Maria van Oosterwyck. Her painting Vanities Still Life also has an hourglass insinuating the passing of time. It also has the decay of the corn insinuating death, similar to Judith Leyster’s painting. This painting is dark and detailed, my reflection of this painting is that it has such a deep meaning to every detail in this painting. I personally was intrigued by, not only the details, but the reds which I often connect with love or passion. 

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. Her painting Self-Portrait with Two Pupils interested me because in the painting on an easel which is assumed to be her self portrait. To me, is intriguing because it is a self portrait of her painting a self portrait. This painting has a deeper meaning to which she is teaching the two women behind her. My reflection of this painting is that it has so much meaning and is important for women artists. 

Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. Her painting Marie Antoinette and Her Children is a painting of a queen with her three children, and one empty crib. The textbook talks about how the queen is oblivious of the world around her and this makes me realize the issues of the period regarding women. This queen’s only purpose was to raise her children and she had no understanding of the world around her. I find it interesting the issues regarding this painting and the issues surrounding it. 

Angelica Kauffmann. Her painting Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures also involves a mother with her children. This painting depicts her children as her jewels and how precious they are. I think that this is similar to the previous painting, but with more of a loving tone.

These women portrayed social issues and other things regarding women’s issues during this time. I didn’t realize the meaning behind these paintings but now I realize how important these paintings are. These women portrayed some controversial and important things through their art, along with making their voice be heard in a prominently male career.

I know how women are still fighting for rights today, but then it must’ve been even harder for women. In the textbook it stated in many ways that women were supposed to have children and that’s all. I think that these women made a voice for these women, oblivious or stuck. I think that this issue isn’t as prominent today, although there are still prominent issues today, but these paintings and these artists paved the way from women today. Without women artists breaking glass ceilings and making statements we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have today.

[jmeier15-blog]

I like how your main focus was the women artists in the chapters. Focusing on the underlying meanings of some of the paintings such as Marie Antoinette and Her Children. I also find it interesting to think about how different life was back then with the gender roles expected within the family unit. Being a mother myself and also having the understanding that she was a queen, I still find it amazing that she is dressed so elegantly yet she has her three children around her. This shows such ease and grace of being a mother even in what is surely close to her everyday attire being so extravagant.  It's true, as you stated, that woman are still fighting for certain rights to this day but we have come such a long way from where we began. In portraits like this it is so interesting to see actual women who helped pave that road in one way or another. 

[jmeier15-blog]

week 5 chapters 19 and 20

This week we covered the Baroque style and the Rococo style of art. Per the book, the Baroque style “tended to be relatively unrestrained, overly emotional, and more energetic than earlier styles”. A great example of this would be Gianlorenzo Bernini's sculpture 'David'. This particular sculpture was done by several artists throughout the years. However, in Bernini's sculpture, we can really see the Baroque style. The sculpture shows David in action, stretching his sling while he looks over this shoulder at its intended target. This highlights the energetic and unrestrained aspects of the Baroque style compared to other sculptures of David which are more relaxed. Baroque painting was more inviting to the viewer and drew them in with touches of sensuality, pleasure and intensity. One example of this is Peter Paul Rubens painting 'Venus and Adonis'. In this painting a nude Venus clings to the arm of her beloved, Adonis. Its intensity is depicted by the way she is stretched out as if she is begging him not to leave her and her child as he prepares to leave.

The Rococo style is said to be a 'world of fantasy and grace with a taste for the exotic'. An example of this is Jeaen-Honore Fragonard's 'Swing'. This painting shows a young lady in a lacey and frilly dress swinging amongst the trees in an partially open garden. The exoticness of this painting is depicted in the young man on the ground in front of her looking up her dress. There is a sexual reference in the young man reaching his hat out and the young lady responding by reaching her foot towards him in return.

As I read more about the Baroque and Rococo styles, I feel like this is art that interest me more so than the styles of the past chapters. It's more visually exciting and entertaining. It's interesting to see how a change in character positions can change the overall mood and emotion of a painting.

I also like how these chapters focused a lot more on women artists than the past chapters. The introduction of women being in recognized in art is great to see. It's interesting to learn when this took place and how it has advanced since then. I am not an artist but as a child I wanted to be. I enjoy being creative and taking pictures and finding different subjects to capture. As a woman it makes me appreciate the women in the past who paved the way for us to succeed in a previously male dominated scene.

[rhoadsj-blog]

Week 3 - Early/High Renaissance

This week’s reading covered both the early Renaissance and the high renaissance. Both of these time periods are an important time for art. The early renaissance contained a large change in style by incorporating oil paints as media and the high renaissance brought us many very well-known and highly valued pieces of art.

In the early Renaissance, I found it to be really interesting how big of a difference in detail there is between the work of the artists from the Netherlands and the artists of Italy. According to the textbook, the Italians tended to use tempera paints whereas those in the Netherlands leaned more toward oil paints. The use of oil paints allowed the artists from the Netherlands to create more precise details in their art than the Italians could with their tempera paints. I really enjoy the intensity of the colors the artists from The Netherlands were able to produce in their paintings. It’s such a huge difference to turn between pages 267 and 268 in the textbook. If one were to focus on Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus tempera painting on canvas, which is an absolutely stunning work of art, in my opinion, on page 266 and then flip to pages 268 and 269 that contain paintings that incorporate oil paints, like Robert Campin’s Merode Altarpiece and Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece, it’s almost like going from low definition to high definition resolution on a television. The intricate details can be seen in figure 15.32 on page 268 that zooms in on a very small image of Christ carrying a cross near the windows from Robert Campin’s Merode Altarpiece and figure 15.34 on page 270 that zooms in on God’s crown from Jan van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece that shows the fine details in the gems of the crown.

The high renaissance is when many easily recognizable paintings were created, like Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. According to the textbook, the high renaissance uses the word “high” to mean that the work from this time had very high approval. One artist’s work, in particular, stood out to me very strongly in this chapter and that was Giorgio da Castelfranco, as known as “Giorgione”. His work can be seen from page 300 of the textbook to page 302. What drew me to his work is the absolute beauty in the way he painted women’s bodies. He chose to use realistic body types for the women he painted, making their bodies more pear-shaped, which is a very common body type for women today, and it seems as though it may have been common in the 1500s as well. Giorgione’s Sleeping Venus on page 301 is a very beautiful example of the way he painted women’s body types.

In conclusion, the early renaissance contained a large change in style by incorporating oil paints as media and the high renaissance brought us many very well-known and highly valued pieces of art. Both of these time periods from this week’s reading are an important time for art.

[jmeier15-blog]

I also liked the way that the woman’s form was portrayed in this time period. It’s refreshing to see women represented as curvier and more realistic. As todays culture is all about being super thin making women all over feel bad about themselves. I think that artists should bring back this type of body style in their paintings and promote a more natural and realistic body type. I liked that in these chapters there were finally paintings that I recognized. It discussed many famous artists such as Da Vinci and Michelangelo. I always find the work of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel incredible. Not only for its size but its detail and use of color as well. Its amazing to think that one person painted that entire thing, even if it did take him 4 years to do so. 

[jmeier15-blog]

Week 3 blog

Chapter 15 and 16 discussed the early Renaissance and the high Renaissance in Italy. The Renaissance is sometimes called “the great age of humanism” due to it focusing more on the Greek saying “Man is the measure of all things”. To me this means, it being focusing more on the human form and all it entails. One thing in chapter 15 that stood out to me in particular was the competition for the Florence baptistery doors. This was a competition in which Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti, who were the top two competitors, competed to design the doors of the Florence Baptistery. Ultimately, Lorenzo Ghiberti won the competition due to his more graceful, less forceful style. His design, which depicted the sacrifice of Isaac was cast in only two panels and used significantly less bronze than his competitor which gave his design at an advantage.  This stood out to me because Brunelleschi's design, although it depicted the same scene as Ghiberti's did not win because it was a lot more harsh in design. This shows me that the time was really changing to focus on a softer, more delicate use of the human form.

Also during this time, portraits of rulers became popular in Italy. One of the ways these were created was by using oil paints which were used on canvas to prevent the possibility of warping from wood and held paint much better. I find myself drawn to portrait paintings as its one of the things that I strive to be able to do. My grandmother was a very good drawer and painter and her portraits were especially impressive. I have been drawing since I was a child but capturing the human facial features is something I have never been able to do.

Chapter 16 introduced famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti. Leonardo da Vinci is known for many famous works of art like the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. The Last Supper is one of the most famous painting in Christian culture. It depicts the final supper with Jesus and his apostales before his crucifixion. I am familiar with this painting as growing up, my grandparents had it hanging on the wall in their dining room and my in-laws now have it hanging in their kitchen. Michelangelo was known for many works but one that is widely known is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This took him 4 years to complete (from 1508-1512) the nine scenes from the book of Genesis, including the creation of Adam.

Most of this era of artwork is appealing to me due to all the detail the various artists were able to put into their work in their own ways. The differences each one of them has between how they depict the human form is incredible to see. It's also nice to see the heavier woman form being used as the main body type during this time period.

[thelavenderllama-blog]

Chapter 14

This chapter discussed many topics about 14th century art/artists. The one section that stood out to me the most, though, was the International Gothic Style. The photos included in this section caught my eye more than the paintings discussed earlier and later in the chapter. Personally, I love seeing the different styles of architecture more than paintings. In this section, the book talked about Claus Sluter, a sculptor. I found it intriguing that he “transformed the representation of human figures.” 

This particular section in the chapter can relate to my life because, as I said before, I like to look at different architecture styles. When traveling, I always like to look for old houses, buildings, etc. I think it’s fascinating to see the beauty of each style. Learning about these styles is amazing. 

[jmeier15-blog]

I was also more drawn to the photos of the sculptures in this chapter than the paintings. I believe that this style and era wasn't really my ‘cup of tea’ so to speak. That being said, the sculptures were very intriguing, they are extremely detailed and that allows the viewer to almost bring them to life. The way Claus Sluter was able to bring a story to his sculptures that people can interperate without words is incredible. That's what I love most about this type of art and art in general, the realization that so many people can bring life to sedentary objects or pictures. 

[jmeier15-blog]

Week 2 blog post

In reading chapter 14, it was all about the Renaissance period and how it developed over that time period. I found that the paintings were interesting and was intriguing to see how different artists depicted very similar paintings with their own styles. For instance, the Madonna Enthroned painting by Cimabue and the Madonna Enthroned painting by Giotto. They are the same painting in general but each artists has their own way of representing the smaller aspects of it.

In the chapter, the paintings were interesting, however, I was more drawn to the sculptures. I found this odd for me as typically I like painting more than sculpture. I found that this era and style of art was not so much the style that I am drawn to. Whenever I am out driving or shopping or doing anything in my day to day, I like to look at different scenarios and scenery as what they would look like if I were to paint them or photograph them. Thinking of how would they differ from the actual moments I see visually is what draws me to art in general.

The sculptures by Claus Sluter, 'Chartreuse de Champmol' and 'Well of Moses' are both very intricate in design. They are animated by the way the artist places the folds in the clothing and the way he brings realism to the statues as together they create a story.

In 'Chartreuse de Champmol' he has Mary standing center gazing at baby Jesus while the others gaze at her adoring her child. Mary looks upon her child as though she sees no one else. I can relate to this statue in certain aspect. Having children myself, I can understand that moment shared between a mother and a new child. It's as though the world around you disappears, the pain and fear from the past hours melt away as you gaze upon your newborn. There are even spectators that take in the moment of you and your new child, be it the father, your parents or anyone else close to you who was able to share in that moment. I believe that this moment is captured in this sculpture.

[afaye2]

Week 1

Art and art history interest me because art and art history are crucial in understanding and expressing cultures, religions, spirituality, and emotions. Outside of art, I am interested in hiking, biking, camping, traveling, and trying new foods. I am pursing a double degree in Accounting and Human Resources and I plan to go into the Accounting field. I hope to learn more about my creative side and about different cultures through art in this course. 

My favorite work of art is this piece that I saw at the City Museum in St. Louis. I found it interesting how every angle you looked at it, it was different, but looking at it head on you could see what it was. I also liked all the random little pieces that made up this work of art.

[jmeier15-blog]

I like the abstract aspect of the piece you posted. I like to be creative in many ways and also hope this class will help me expand the way I look at different pieces and styles of art. 

[jmeier15-blog]

week 1 discussion

What interests me about art is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. There are many different ways to express yourself through art and there are several different ways to interpret the same piece. 

Outside of art I like to spend time with my husband and 2 kids. I love to watch them grow and experience things for the first time. There is something about the joy that children feel in the smallest of things. I am completing my associates of arts degree at this time. I am working towards the goal of getting my marketing degree or going into a marketing program. 

There is not really anything specifically that I hope this course covers, I just hope to broaden my views of art across different cultures and perspectives.

I honestly don't have a “favorite” piece of artwork. I like all types of art. painting and photography being my favorites. I’ve always liked the Anne Geddes photos as they are adorable and, as in the one below, the contrast in the size of the hands with the size of the baby, there is something so innocent and beautiful about it that I really like.